| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE BILL 1154 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By Crowe |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | HOUSE BILL 1236 |
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| 6 | 6 | | By Zachary |
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| 7 | 7 | | |
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| 8 | 8 | | |
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| 9 | 9 | | HB1236 |
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| 10 | 10 | | 003349 |
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| 11 | 11 | | - 1 - |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, |
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| 14 | 14 | | relative to the food stamp program. |
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| 15 | 15 | | |
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| 16 | 16 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 3, is amended by |
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| 18 | 18 | | adding the following as a new section: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (a) This section is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Health SNAP |
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| 20 | 20 | | Act." |
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| 21 | 21 | | (b) The purpose of this section is to ensure the supplemental nutrition assistance |
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| 22 | 22 | | program (SNAP) in this state aligns with its intended purpose of improving food security |
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| 23 | 23 | | and nutrition by prohibiting the purchase of candy and soft drinks with SNAP benefits. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (c) The department shall submit a request for a federal waiver to the United |
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| 25 | 25 | | States department of agriculture's food and nutrition service to seek authorization to |
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| 26 | 26 | | prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of candy and soft drinks. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (d) The waiver request must include: |
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| 28 | 28 | | (1) A justification citing: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (A) Public health concerns; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (B) SNAP's statutory intent; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (C) Cost savings to taxpayers; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) An implementation plan ensuring that existing point-of-sale systems |
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| 33 | 33 | | used by retailers in this state have the ability to properly enforce the restriction; |
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| 34 | 34 | | (3) A strategy for education and outreach informing SNAP recipients of |
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| 35 | 35 | | alternative healthy food options; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | |
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| 37 | 37 | | |
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| 38 | 38 | | - 2 - 003349 |
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| 39 | 39 | | |
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| 40 | 40 | | (4) A reporting mechanism to track the impact of the waiver, including |
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| 41 | 41 | | spending patterns and health outcomes. |
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| 42 | 42 | | (e) If the waiver is approved, then the department shall implement the restriction |
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| 43 | 43 | | within six (6) months of receiving federal authorization. |
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| 44 | 44 | | (f) The department shall submit an annual report to the governor and the chair of |
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| 45 | 45 | | the health and welfare committee of the senate and chair of the committee of the house |
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| 46 | 46 | | of representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on the following: |
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| 47 | 47 | | (1) The status of the waiver request; |
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| 48 | 48 | | (2) Data on SNAP spending patterns in this state; and |
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| 49 | 49 | | (3) Any identified challenges or recommendations for further policy |
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| 50 | 50 | | action. |
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| 51 | 51 | | (g) As used in this section, "candy" and "soft drinks" have the same meanings as |
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| 52 | 52 | | those terms are defined by the federal government. |
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| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it. |
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